[Amended 6-26-1980 by Ord. No. 158; 12-14-2011]
This Town Meeting creates a Commission on the
Aging for the Town of Canton consisting of seven regular voting members
appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The purpose for the establishment
of said Commission is to evaluate, coordinate, and assist in implementing
programs and services for the elderly. The members of the Commission
shall serve for a term of four years, except that the initial term
shall be one member to serve until January 1, 1975, one member to
serve until January 1, 1976, one member to serve until January 1,
1977, one member to serve until January 1, 1978, and one member to
serve until January 1, 1979, or until their successors have been appointed
and qualify. Any vacancy in said Commission shall be filled for the
unexpired portion of the term only by the Board of Selectmen. The
Selectmen forthwith appoint two additional members, one to serve until
January 1, 1981, and one to serve until January 1, 1982, and appointment
to fill these terms thereafter shall be for a four-year term. The
members of the Commission on the Aging shall at their first meeting
elect a Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary from its members, by
ballot, which officers shall serve until the first meeting held in
the month of January during each year, at which time a new election
shall take place. The necessary expenses of the Commission shall be
paid by the Town through the proper appropriation procedures.
The Commission shall study the conditions and
needs of the elderly persons in the community in relation to housing,
economy, health, employment, transportation, recreation, home care
services, and other matters concerning the quality of life of the
elderly and shall continue to make said studies as long as the Commission
remains in existence. It shall analyze the services and programs available
through public and private agencies and shall make recommendations
to the Board of Selectmen regarding the development and integration
of such services and programs in keeping with the needs of the elderly.
The Canton Commission on the Aging may receive gifts and grants in
the name of the Town of Canton for community use by the elderly and
shall administer such gifts and grants for such purposes or for the
limited purposes provided for by the terms of the gift or grant. It
may exchange information with the State Department on Aging. It may
apply to that Department for assistance in planning and coordinating
state and local services and programs. It may conduct such programs
for the aid of the aging as it deems proper, provided that moneys
are available either by gift, grant, or by appropriation from the
general fund of the Town. Such programs may include, but are not limited
to, subsidized travel arrangements and subsidized food services.
[Added 7-7-1976 by Ord. No. 127; amended 12-14-2011]
There shall be three alternates appointed by
the Board of Selectmen within 60 days of the passage of this section
to serve for a period of the remainder of the year 1976, and thereafter
three alternates shall be appointed to serve for a four-year term.
In the event of a disqualification or the absence of any member, the
Chairman of the Commission may call upon any of the three alternates
to replace the disqualified or absent member.